Railway truck



RAILWAY TRUCK Original Filed June 14, 1932 1 J 3? 7%2 2, 10 11 mm flaya/dx rfiarv'ows atented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRUCK Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of Maryland.

7 Claims.

This is a divisional application of my pending application Serial No. 617,228, filed June 14, 19 2, entitled Railway truck, which hasmatured into Patent No. 2,146,200, granted February '7, 1939.

This invention relates to railway trucks and more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the side frames, bolster and associated spring means.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolster is supported from spaced associated side frames by means of nests of springs which in-' clude helical or coil springs and leaf or elliptic springs, the elliptic springs being relatively taller 15 than the helical springs and the bolster ends being arranged to accommodate the parts of the elliptic spring which extend above the helical springs.

. Another object of the invention is the proand an elliptic spring seat disposed at an'angle to the helical spring seats, the elliptic spring seats being provided with cylindrically curved surfaces so as to allow for an equalization of the elliptic spring with respect to the associated parts thereof.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and by referring 40 to the accompanying sheet of drawings ,which exemplifies an embodiment of the invention.

Generally considered, the drawing illustrates in Figure 1 a partial side elevation of a railway truck, a portion of which is shown in vertical section so as to more clearly illustrate the structure, and in Figure 2 a vertical sectional view taken-along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like parts are designated bylike reference characters, there is shown a railway truck 1' preferably of the spring plankless type and 55 comprising a pair of spaced side frames 2 only one of which is fragmentarily shown. Each of the side frames 2 includes a compression memher 3 spaced above a tension member 4 and longitudinally spaced vertically extending guide columns 5 which connect intermediate portions of the compression and tension member to form a window or bolster opening 6 therebetween. The portion of the tension member 4, intermediate the guide columns is preferably boxshaped in transverse cross section and'comprises an upper web i forming a spring plate seat portion, a lower web 8 spaced below the upper web 1, and vertical side flanges 9 which extend between and integrally join the upper and lower 'webs I and 8 respectively. The upper web 1 laterally of the side flanges 9 is extended inwardly and outwardly of the side frame beyond the said flanges, as at Ill, to thereby increase the bearing area of the tension member and form an adequate support for the superimposed spring plate H.

The junctions between the tension member 4, and the guide columns are preferably reinforcedor strengthened by means of longitudinally spaced convoluted or embossed portions H which extend longitudinally of the side frame and are upstanding from the tension member. The convoluted or embossed portions l2 form triangular gussets which preferably start adjacent the vertical transverse plane of the truck structure and extend diagonally outward therefrom to intersect the column guides above the plane of the upper web 1 and. continue toward the end of the. tension member in a manner similar to that disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,652,808, dated December 13, 1927. This construction not only obviates the necessity of providing squaring or spring-retaining lugs on the upper Web 1 of the tension member but also permits an interlocking means for the spring plate ll, thereby. retaining the plate in operable position. In ordr to accomplish this latter re suit, the spring plate II, which includesa main web H, is provided with side longitudinally side frame longitudinally of the truck structure.

Extending outwardly of the bolster side walls It adjacent each bolster end are inner and outer lugs is which embrace and are adapted to engage the corresponding guide columns.

In the present embodiment the load-carrying member or bolster i4 is resiliently supported by means of a nest of springs including an ellipticspring 2% comprising two groups or banks of vertically spaced curved plates 26 spaced at their respective ends by castings or members 20' and retained in assembled relation by means of upper and lower intermediate bands ii and the helical springs 23 are fully compressed upon a complete downward movement oi the bolster,

the elliptic spring is desirably formed taller than the helical springs with the excess height thereof extending into a downwardly opening pocket or recess 21 in the bolster. The recess 2'! is preferably formed by convoluting the bottom web I! of the bolster so that the upper web 28 defining the upper extremity of the pocket may be inclined, as at 29, and thereby permit the inclined portion 29 to overlie the upper inner contour of the upper plates 21.! in spaced relation and with an approximately uniform clearance therebetween. Each bolster end I5 is preferably reinforced by means of vertically disposed spaced gussets 30 which extend between the upper web 280 of the convoluted portion and the top web It of the bolster.

In order to cushion lateral thrusts or side shocks of the bolster and thereby impart a smoother lateral motion to the bolster, the elliptic spring is inclined to a horizontal plane with its outer end normally disposed at a. higher elevation than its inner end. By thus disposing the major axis of the elliptic spring at an oblique angle to the horizontal the spring may be made longer than normal on account of the external truck clearance line becoming wider as the distance from the top of the rail increases, which will permit a corresponding increased length of the elliptic spring when it is raised from normal position above the rails. when the elliptic spring is disposed in a sloping or inclined position, as illustrated, it isadapted to directly cushion a certain amount of transverse movement of the bolster which results in lateral forces being imparted thereto. Any lateral movement of the bolster permitted by the clearance between the guide column and bolster lugs I! will compress the elliptic spring an amount determined by the angle of inclination of the e]- liptic spring so that a positive absorbing or cushioning means is provided for lateral forces.

The upper elliptic spring band 2 i is in bearing relation with a boss forming spring seat Ii which is downwardly facing and provided on the upper web 28 of the bolster convoluted portion 21, while the lower elliptic spring band 22 is in bearing relation with an intermediate convoluted portion 32 which is upwardly facing and formed on the spring plate centrally thereof. The spring seat lhand intermediate convoluted portion 32 are desirably disposed at oblique angles to a horizontal plane so as to correspond substantially with the angle of inclination of the major axis of the elliptic spring and thereby provide a full bearing area between the elliptic spring bands H and 229 and their associated seats on the bolster end and spring plate.

In order to allow forthe equilization of the elliptic spring with respect to the bolster and spring plate as the bolster moves transversely of the truck structure, the upper and-lower intermediate bands M and 22 are each provided with outer cylindrical convex surfaces 59 and ii respectively. The convex surface 5| of the lower band is in bearing relation with a cylindrical concave surfase 49 formed on the intermediate convoluted portion of the spring plate, while the convex surface 50 of the upper band bears directly against a cylindrical concave surface 52 formed on the spring seat ii of the bolster. It is not the present intention to limit the radii of the convex surfaces to any particular dimension as it will be clearly understood thatthese surfaces may be formed coaxial and about an axis midway therebetween so as to provide for a free plane horizontal movement of the bolster with. respect to the side frame. Both of the elliptic spring seats 3i and 32 are defined by spaced ribs 33 which lie adjacent and are adapted to engage the corresponding spring band, thereby preventing an accidental or unwarranted shifting of the elliptic spring laterally of the truck structure.

Spaced on either side of the bolster convoluted portion 21" are substantially horizontal helical spring seats 34 which have lugs 35 projecting downwardly therefrom. The lugs 36 extend into the upper portion of the helical springs and form retention means for preventing the accidental displacement of the helical springs. The main web of the spring plate is provided with a substantially horizontal surface 36 which forms helical spring seats on opposite sides of the intermediate convoluted portion i3 and has upstanding therefrom positioning lugs 31 adapted to extend into and interlock with the lower extremity of the helical springs 23. Top spring plates 53 are desirably provided between the helical spring seats 34 of the bolster and the upper bearing portion of the helical springs, but these plates are not essential, as will be understood, and may be dispensed witn.

It will be appreciated that merely an exemplary form of the present invention has been disclosed and described and further, that numerous alterations may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced intermediate their ends by spaced columns to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a spring plate on said tension member, a bolster I having an end portion thereof positioned in said opening and provided with lugs outstanding from the sides thereof engaging said columns, said bolster end and spring plate being provided with helical and elliptic spring seats, helical and el- 7 8,805,359 v-liptic spring means in bearing relation with said spring sests and interposed between said bolster end and spring plate for resiliently supporting the bolster, said helical springs being vertically disposed and said elliptic spring having its major axis extending at an oblique angle to the helizontsl.

2. In a, railway truclr, in combination, a pair or side irsrnes each formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions hy spaced column members to form is window opening therebetween, s holster withits end por-. tions extending into seid window openings and provision with lugs engsging ssiol column members, s pole of upright helical springs interposed opening therebetween, a bolster with its end.

portion received in said window opening, means on said bolster for engaging the guide columns, helicsl and elliptic spring means interposed be-, tween the said tension member and bolster end ior resilientiysupporting the bolster, said bolster end having substantially horizontal helical spring seats and an elliptic spring seat disposed at anoblique angle to the helical spring seats, the helical springs-being substantially upright and the elliptic spring having its major ans extending at an oblique angle to the horizontal.

a 4. s bolster having an end portion adspted'to occupy a correapondinsly iormed opening in an sssoclsted sitle heme, substnntinlly horizontal helicsl spring seats on said mister mil spoced on either side of the vertiwl longituriinsl plane of sold bolsterone on eilimic spring sent on said holster eno positioned in ssirl longitudinal plane, said elliptic spring sect extending at an oblique sngle to the helicoi spring seats in order to per-- mit the mnior ssis cl on associated elliptic spring to extend st on ohlinue angle to the horizontal.

5 A spring piste for as truck spring nnit comprising elliptic snll helical springs including a. web hoving s plane surface forming helical spring sects one o convoluted portion iorming an elliptic spring sent. ssid convoluted portion having s cylinoricelly curved surface snguisrly disposed to the helical spring sents so as to position the major sz zis oi the elliptic spring at en oblique angle to the horizontal.

- 6. A spring piste tor n truck spring unit comprising elliptic nod helicel springs, sold piste including s; web hsving oppositely disposed side convoluted portions eiiapted to nest over correspontlingly iormedconvoiutions on on associated side'irame, s plsne surface on said web formin helicel spring seats, and an intermediste convoluted portion forming an elliptic spring seat,

' said intermediate convoluted portion being angularly disposed to the helical spring seats so as, to position the mslor sins of sold elliptic spring at an oblique s ngle to the horizontal.

7. A spring plate for a truck spring unit comprising s web having side convoluted portions sdspted'to nest over correspondingly formed convolutions on an associated side frame, a spring seat formed. on said web, said spring seat being disposed st an oblique angle to ssiri'web, and means associsted with said sprins seat for retainspring in s predetermined lil 

